UNICAL Provides Free Healthcare to 47,000 Students Through TISHIP Programme
Dr. Kaiser William Ettah, the Director of Health Services at UNICAL's Medical Centre, emphasized the significance of health insurance in ensuring that quality healthcare is accessible to everyone at affordable rates, irrespective of their economic status.
AKACHI NOEL 
The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has extended free healthcare services to over 47,000 of its students, thanks to the Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) implemented by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).This information was shared during a stakeholder meeting hosted by the NHIA's Cross River State Office with the theme "Universal Health Coverage: Everyone's Business."
Dr. Kaiser William Ettah, the Director of Health Services at UNICAL's Medical Centre, emphasized the significance of health insurance in ensuring that quality healthcare is accessible to everyone at affordable rates, irrespective of their economic status.
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Pharmacist Nuhu Ajodi, the NHIA South-South Zonal Director, highlighted the importance of decentralization efforts for healthcare enrollment and implementation, allowing states to collaborate with the NHIA. He explained that the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund targets vulnerable populations, particularly mothers and children under five in rural areas, providing free healthcare services and reducing infant and maternal mortality.
Mr. Stanley Effah, the Cross River State Coordinator of NHIA, acknowledged the progress made in implementing universal health coverage but pointed out the need for increased awareness and enhanced healthcare delivery.
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Dr. Michael Itam, the Head of the Programme Department at NHIA, discussed the challenges facing satisfactory healthcare services, including a lack of primary healthcare systems, inadequate distribution of healthcare providers, uninformed clientele, economic realities, a shortage of qualified medical professionals, infrastructural decay, and insufficient private sector involvement in health financing and delivery.
Comrade Nsa Gill, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Cross River State Council, emphasized the role of strategic media advocacy in promoting the National Health Insurance scheme.UNICAL's commitment to providing free healthcare to its students through TISHIP is a significant step toward ensuring that quality healthcare services are accessible to all.
